New Zealand’s worst leadership speech since 2008
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- Date published:
9:31 am, January 24th, 2025 - 22 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, economy, infrastructure, jobs, monetary policy, overseas investment -
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The PM’s ‘State of the Nation’ speech about the New Zealand economy titled “economic growth the key to better days ahead” was a bag of words with no plan.
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives.
“Right now it is a tough time for many Kiwis – we’ve experienced the biggest recession since the early 1990s. Growth is the solution – we must embrace it.
PM Luxon’s gutting of Wellington’s economy through the sacking of multiple thousands of public servants averaging over $100k a year and driving them off overseas is the opposite of economic growth. The government remains over 20% of our GDP so he leads the primary largest lever of that economy.
PM Luxon’s gutting of Kainga Ora, together with the Reserve Bank focus on lowering inflation using interest rates, has collapsed the housing market and through that has also collapsed the ability of NZ households to invest and expand their businesses – because houses are the backbone of our wealth.
“We’ve already made significant reforms in 2024 – take fast-track, stopping wasteful spending, new roads, RMA reform, stopping ram raids, new trade deals, backing farmers, banning cellphones in class, FamilyBoost, making foreign investment easier, increasing speed limits, and focusing councils on the basics.
Under PM Luxon’s leadership New Zealand’s GDP continues to shrink, our trade deficit is worse, private sector debt continues to increase, inward investment has collapsed, multiple manufacturing plants taking out whole parts of our export base have died, outward migration is at record levels, and 95% of New Zealanders who live here have their circumstances going backwards including landlords who have their property values decreased and equity shrink.
“And in 2025 we’re going even further – all focused on growth so we can have thriving businesses making a profit, paying higher wages, hiring more people and investing in more growth.
We have the highest level of business liquidation in decades, and higher unemployment particularly for Maori and Pacifika.
“Going for growth means wherever you come from, and whatever you want to achieve, New Zealand will be an outstanding place to make it happen.
If that is the case then it is about time PM Luxon landed a deal that shows he has the business shops to be that kind of place.
In his speech Mr Luxon announced major changes to the science and innovation sector and overseas investment, all designed to lift productivity, boost Kiwi incomes, and create opportunities here at home.
“Invest New Zealand will be established as the Government’s one-stop-shop for foreign direct investment.
“Modelled off the success of Ireland and Singapore, Invest New Zealand will roll out the welcome mat – streamlining the investment process and providing tailored support to foreign investors.
PM Luxon should be reminded of Singapore which has no agricultural base and is within 5 kms of countries with over 500 million people, and of Ireland which has Kerry’s that has long since left Fonterra in the shade despite both being co-ops of about the same age and of the entire economy of Ireland which is an EU member that has become the primary tech gateway for US companies into EU and UK started through the most enormous inward tax breaks. Is he incapable of bullying our handful of key exporters particularly Fonterra which the government invented, to actually improve?
“Invest New Zealand will increase capital investment across a range of critical sectors – like banking and fintech, critical infrastructure like transport and energy, manufacturing, and innovation.
Will this new agency repeat the work of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise? Or the work of Infrastructure NZ?
What funding is Prime Minister Luxon setting aside for enabling these industry sectors to focus their efforts? Maybe they should go back to the original Growth and Innovation Framework of the Clark government which brought our key export-focused industrial areas together to work in natural clusters, such as screen production, food and beverage, packaging and fibre, marine tech, biotech, and the like?
Do we really have to reinvent the wheel every damn time there’s a change of government?
“We’re also undertaking a significant reform of the science sector – because we want more break throughs, more discoveries, more start-ups, more IPOs, and many more opportunities for Kiwis to compete on the world stage.
“Backing our science and innovation sector, and backing economic growth, will drive productivity and make us all wealthier. It will lift incomes, help families to get ahead and also allow us to invest more in the public services Kiwis deserve.
National governments have provided no noticeable funding for either our universities or our Crown Research Institutes for decades, our university world ranking continues to decline, and our polytechs have been reduced to an incoherent ruin over multiple governments but particularly this one.
“We will shake up our Crown Research Institutes, establishing four Public Research Organisations – focused on bio-economy, earth sciences, health and forensic sciences, and advanced technology.
Did they just forget about this area entirely in the 2024 Budget?
“And I want us to commercialise our brilliant ideas – so that our science system makes us all wealthier. Too often, new innovations are effectively shelved – with potential commercialisation often an afterthought.
“Right now, scientists see too few of the proceeds of their own research. We’re going to change that – with researchers seeing a greater commercial share of their own innovations.”
Does he know what Auckland’s Uniservices does already? Does he know the increase in market capitalisation of university commercialisation spinoffs over the last 3 decades? Why can’t he show what our innovation+commercialisation pipeline looks like already? Does he know an example in of what’s working? Why can’t he even add a fact in here that would show he knows what he’s talking about?
In his speech Mr Luxon also highlighted some of the other areas that would be key for growth – including competition, RMA reform, fixing health and safety rules, backing tourism and mining, and making life easier for farmers.
“Last year the OECD said that insufficient competition was an important factor in driving New Zealand’s long standing productivity woes – with our distance from other markets making domestic competition doubly important.
PM Luxon surely knows that domestic competition isn’t going to change much without massive state market interventions of the scale of the Telecom breakup. We are beset by longstanding oligopolies in near-cartel like conditions and no one in his government is doing anything about that: PM Luxon should start with looking in the mirror of the Crown’s own culpability in low productivity. He should also know since he ran our airline that our distance from markets played well is also a primary export advantage. Particularly for the things we are world leaders in such as food and beverage, and adventure tourism.
“Too often we see reports of Kiwis getting a raw deal because of a lack of competition. In banking, energy, retail, construction and groceries. I’m up for action.”
If he’s up for action in banking, why doesn’t he start with the bank that PM Luxon already owns; Kiwibank?
If he’s up for competition in energy, he still owns 51% of our major gentailers and 100% of Transpower.
Mr Luxon said that 2025 would be all about going for growth.
“Too often when it comes to economic growth, New Zealand has slipped into a culture of saying no. We need to shift our mindset and embrace it.
PM Luxon needs to be held to actual measures: increases in mean income, increases in % of jobs earning over $100k, increases in businesses expansion and decreasing numbers of business liquidation.
It’s too late and too deep a recession for generalities with no plans or reporting mechanisms to publish and be held to.
“I want our kids to know that New Zealand is where the opportunities are – not Australia or the UK.
PM Luxon should stand at the Auckland International boarding gate and ask them what he could do to persuade them to stay.
“2025 will be another massive year for New Zealand – and I am obsessed with doing everything it takes to unleash the growth, innovation, and investment we need to thrive – because Kiwis deserve nothing less.”
2025 like 2024 on current trajectory is going to be at least as bad for our economy as 2008-9’s GFC-initiated global recession. It is another year of incoherent government, landing no deals, drifting us down into the service levels of Indonesia or Argentina.
Half way through his term he’s just spitballing when he should have highly refined structural proposals about how to use all of the states’ investment arms to common good.
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It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...1 week ago
- Govt grasping at economic growth straws
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...1 week ago
- The quiet Waitangi that said a lot
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...1 week ago
- Release: Disabled people languishing in psych wards due to Govt cuts
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...2 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis tone deaf as 230 jobs lost
Nicola Willis thought it was the perfect time to celebrate today, while 230 people lost their jobs. ...2 days ago
- Release: Students misled on halal school lunches
It’s been revealed that Muslim students have been misled on the Government’s school lunches, which were claimed to be halal. ...2 days ago
- Job losses from Kinleith Mill closure devastating
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...2 days ago - Mariameno Kapa-Kingi Enters Members Bill to Establish Mokopuna Māori Authority
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...2 days ago
- Release: Bloodbath continues for health leadership
The Government continues to tear apart New Zealand’s health leadership, sacking or forcing the resignation of our top medical experts. ...2 days ago
- Release: Paper mill closure adds to growing job losses
The Government has no plan to support workers as 230 more jobs are lost today with the closure of the Kinleith paper mill. ...2 days ago
- Democracy Matters
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...3 days ago - Release: Willis’ supermarket announcement all talk, no plan
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...3 days ago
- Release: Homelessness growing under National
Housing is going in the wrong direction under National, despite promises to build more houses and reduce the social housing waitlist. ...3 days ago
- Release: More Kiwis are hungry, homeless and out of work
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...4 days ago
- Fisheries consultation must put sustainability before profit
The Green Party is urgently calling on the Government to prioritise long-term prosperity of our oceans in its consultation on the Fisheries Act. ...4 days ago
- Benefit levels fail to keep families out of poverty
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...4 days ago
- NZ First Introduces Fluoridation Referendum Bill
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...5 days ago
- Release: Health system will suffer from ‘let it fail’ strategy
National’s cutting of digital staff in our health system will put patients at risk and leave hospitals vulnerable to cyber-attack. ...6 days ago
- Release: Cuts to school bus routes put Northland kids at risk
The Government is putting cost-cutting ahead of kids’ safety with its decision to cut rural school bus routes in Northland. ...6 days ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill To Fight ‘Woke Banks’
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...6 days ago
- Release: Watered down investor visa will fail economy
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...6 days ago
- Release: Craven silence on ICC conveys consent
New Zealand has long been a member of the International Criminal Court, which impartially prosecutes serious war criminals for atrocities. ...6 days ago
- MP Views: Waitangi Day 2025
Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...1 week ago
- Release: Health leadership in disarray while Kiwis miss out
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...1 week ago
- PM must condemn Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...1 week ago
- Public Works Act overhaul fails to protect Māori land
The Government’s so-called overhaul of the Public Works Act will fail to prevent further injustices around the confiscation of Māori land. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Māori and Pacific people hit hardest by lack of jobs
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt’s lack of a plan shows in soaring unemployment stats
The latest labour market figures confirm unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Unemployment soars as Government fails Kiwis
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Kiwis hard, with unemployment reaching 5.1%—a four-year high. ...2 weeks ago
- Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven – Shane Jones
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Still no commitment to build more public houses
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...2 weeks ago
- Government plan fails on growing public housing stock
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- MP Views: Tough on crime, water storage, Easter trading laws, and vocational training
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...2 weeks ago
- Marama Davidson to mark return to politics at Waitangi
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...2 weeks ago
- Our Tamariki Deserve Better than Seymour’s Slop
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Mining plan offers false promises with real damage
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Dunedin wins, hospital build continues
The people of Dunedin have won in an almost year-long battle to have their hospital confirmed, but National’s delays have cost dearly. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens stand with Coromandel locals against Luxon’s destructive mining policy
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...2 weeks ago
- Where’s the “culture of yes” on climate ambition?
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...2 weeks ago
- Taranaki Maunga Granted Legal Personhood
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Frontline providers deserve certainty, not name-calling
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Seymour’s school lunch cuts already failing kids
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...2 weeks ago
- Open season on renters begins with no-cause evictions
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...2 weeks ago
- 98 per cent of potholes repaired within 24 hours
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...2 weeks ago - Decision reached on Dunedin Hospital
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...2 weeks ago
- First Plunket site begins delivering childhood immunisations
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...2 weeks ago
- Government confirms international commitment to disability community
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...2 weeks ago
- Major milestone reached with launch of Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...2 weeks ago
- A new direction for the minerals sector to grow the economy
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...2 weeks ago
- Tax policy proposal would boost NZ racing
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...2 weeks ago
- Business confidence signals progress
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...2 weeks ago
- Hawke’s Bay patients to benefit from new and improved radiology and cancer treatment services
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...2 weeks ago
- Setting New Zealand’s second international climate target
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...2 weeks ago
- Major negotiations with iwi of Taranaki conclude
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...2 weeks ago
- Relentless focus on literacy & numeracy at school
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...2 weeks ago
- Ministers welcome Kāinga Ora’s revised approach to wool carpets
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...2 weeks ago
- New school lunch programme serves up first healthy lunches
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...2 weeks ago
- Barnardos decision reversed
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...2 weeks ago
- Customs’ levies bill passes first reading
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...2 weeks ago
- Citizenship applications completed up 54 per cent in December
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...3 weeks ago
- Speed limit reduction reversals begin
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...3 weeks ago
- Budget will be delivered on 22 May
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...3 weeks ago
- PM emphasises importance of growth in 2025
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...3 weeks ago
- Students are back at school
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...3 weeks ago
- Going for Growth: New rules for visiting tourists
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...3 weeks ago
- ‘Devastating’: Hundreds of engineers leaving NZ due to infrastructure delays, CEO claims
Hundreds of engineers are losing their jobs and leaving our shores due to infrastructure project delays, creating "significant" risk to our nation's development, says the head of New Zealand's engineering body. ...1 hour ago - Mediawatch: Golden visas obscured by politics and talkback pushback
Mediawatch: Media management helped the government's new 'golden visas' into the headlines, but it also got obscured by the ACT leader's antics. ...2 hours ago
- The House: Fighting over growth, forgetting to mention the plan
Much of Parliament's time so far this year has been spent on one very long debate, and not about legislation - but a plan for legislation. ...3 hours ago
- China deal ‘complements, not replaces’ NZ relationship, says Cook Islands PM
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday. Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands ...10 hours ago - Fiji and Israel strengthen bilateral relations, plan embassy opening
Pacific Media Watch Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing an embassy in Israel, with plans to open the embassy in Jerusalem, despite global condemnation of Tel Aviv over the war in Gaza. This announcement came as the Coalition Cabinet prepared to discuss the matter in Suva next week, reports ...13 hours ago
- Tick for ‘short’ bootcamp review too soon – children’s commissioner
The government should not set military style academies into youth justice law, the children's commissioner says, despite its first bootcamp getting a glowing report. ...15 hours ago
- PM’s ‘fashion crime’ T-shirt now up for auction
The infamous over-the-suit T-shirt worn by the PM at a Parliament barbecue has gone on sale to raise funds for children living in poverty, in a TradeMe auction. ...19 hours ago
- Environmental Protection Authority Will End Up Defaulting On Loan If Too Few Developers Use GovtR...
It plans to repay the loan over five years using application levies from would-be beneficiaries of the shortened route planning approval. ...21 hours ago - Cook Islands signs closely watched China deal
Official ratification of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement is likely to cause consternation in Wellington. ...1 day ago
- Government accused of ‘othering’ Muslim community after failing to provide halal-certifi...
The government is being accused of racism and 'othering' the Muslim community, after failing to provide halal-certified school lunches. ...1 day ago
- Dark questions over child social media stars
Once upon a time it was all about being an astronaut, a firefighter or doctor; but these days kids have their sights set on becoming vloggers or YouTubers.That’s according to a 2019 study by Lego that surveyed 3000 children between the ages of eight to 12 from the US, the ...1 day ago - The Secret Diary of .. Sheriff Seymour
MONDAYSheriff Seymour rode slowly down the main street of Dodge on his faithful white horse Atlas Network.He liked what he saw.Children were being fed free lunches prepared by kind people who collected the scraps from an offal rendering plant.“Very strongly flavoured liver, such as ox liver, can be soaked overnight ...1 day ago
- The Weekend: Being single vs being alone
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. From the moment I started high school and realised almost every other girl in my year was at least partially interested in what the boys were up to, I realised that I would be single for life. The feeling wasn’t one of ...1 day ago - Pacific profiles: Meet Selina Alesana Alefosio, who teaches Pacific dance at Aotearoa’s most prest...
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, Selina Alesana Alefosio. All photos by Geoffery Matautia. On a bright Sunday morning from her grandparent’s home in Pito-one, I spoke with ...1 day ago
- ‘I really thought it was a scam’: Morgana O’Reilly on getting The White Lotus call
The White Lotus star reflects on her life in TV, including the local ad reference that doesn’t work in Australia, and her bananas co-star on Neighbours. Morgana O’Reilly was scrolling her phone next to her sleeping son on an idle Saturday morning when she got the call confirming that she ...1 day ago
- Brilliant and devastating: Are book blurbs anything more than a circle jerk?
Claire Mabey explores the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers. In January, Publishers Weekly put out an article by Sean Manning – publisher of Simon & Schuster’s flagship US imprint – in which he said he’d “no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books”. The ...1 day ago
- Spineless, but still special: Eight bugs vying for your vote
New Zealand’s Entomological Society is hosting its annual bug of the year contest. Here are some of the insects in the running. For some reason – perhaps humans’ inherent competitiveness, the idealisation of democracy, the need to demarcate winners and losers – one of the best ways to get people ...1 day ago
- The Spinoff Essay: Sunset Limited
A journey along the border, with words and illustrations by Bob Kerr. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members. The Sunset Limited leaves Union Station New Orleans on time at nine in the morning. We ...1 day ago
- The falcon on Taieri Ridge
Neville Peat is the 2024 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in nonfiction. He’s written 56 books, mostly on natural history; this excerpt is from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal, first published in 1992. The falcon wintering on the Rock and ...1 day ago
- Olympic sailor architect of her own good fortune
It was a light-hearted gesture Greta Pilkington will be forever grateful for – thanks to an Aussie rival who jumped in when the Olympic sailor couldn’t be at her own graduation.Pilkington, then 20, had been leading a double life – while qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the ILCA ...1 day ago
- Short story: A Matchstick, by Madeleine Walker
I was born in the back of my grandfather’s ute, by an overgrown windbreak in a remote place called Wahi-Rakau you can’t find on a map. I was born a girl but given the man’s name Harvey, as my dad always wanted a violent-minded boy to one day help him ...1 day ago
- Ngāi Tahu witness allays fears over water consents
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...1 day ago
- RSF demands White House restores AP’s access — and let press do its job
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...1 day ago
- France’s top diplomat confirms ‘unfreezing’ of New Caledonia’s electoral roll back on table
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...2 days ago
- Free Speech Union Announces Four Speakers For National Tours In 2025
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...2 days ago
- How would Israel respond if Trump called for death camps in Gaza?
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...2 days ago
- ‘A shameful call by Creative Australia’: the arts community reacts to Khaled Sabsabi being dropp...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...2 days ago
- Bracing for a monster: Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on WA. Here’s what to expect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...2 days ago
- Dingoes are being culled in Victoria. How much harm to the species is needed to protect commercial p...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...2 days ago
- School lunch provider Compass admits halal meals ‘friendly’ but not certified
Labour says students have been "misled" but education minister David Seymour says they have always described the meals as 'halal friendly'. ...2 days ago
- In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...2 days ago
- Treaty principles bill hearings, day five: ‘Nice to be here – not really’
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions. Read our recaps of the previous hearings here. It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...2 days ago
- Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...2 days ago
- Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades. The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after ...2 days ago
- First official evaluation from government’s youth bootcamp revealed
The report was largely positive, but did find there were issues with staff shortages and a lack of Māori input. ...2 days ago
- Environmental Protection Authority will end up defaulting on loan if too few developers use governme...
It plans to repay the loan over five years using application levies from would-be beneficiaries of the shortened route planning approval. ...2 days ago
- Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also i...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades. The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after ...2 days ago
- In the quest to appease Israel, the media undermine our basic rights
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy. COMMENTARY: By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...2 days ago
- New Zealand still lacking cohesive storm response, Emergency Management Minister says
But we're in a better place than before and we should be very "proud as a country", the Emergency Management Minister says. ...2 days ago
- ‘Bloodbath’: Director-General of Health resignation a huge blow, doctors say
The sector is now in a perilous position after the resignation of Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati, doctors and colleagues say. ...2 days ago
The PM's speech seemed to be a desperate sort of cheerleading, the message being that economic growth will take us all to Nirvana.
What he didn't say was that the environment will be gutted to achieve that growth. His comments on making life easier for farmers are ominous – more crud in our rivers, I guess.
Even if NZ achieved a record balance of payments surplus, it wouldn't last.
Luxon – like Trump – doesn't give a fig for the environment, or even understand the essential role that it plays in not only his life but in all our lives.
Yea. Will there be ever less scrutiny of this?.
Cruelty and greed.
I rate the whistleblower farm Workers who alerted MPI….I have to wonder if they were also treated badly. IMO ..yes.
Seems there were Directors of this cruel and greedy company .
Cruelty and greed. NAct1 summed.
Luxon's loud bragging about the nirvana he is about to gift New Zealand compares with the school kid no one likes who boasts about his father's car being bigger than anyone else's. All smug noise and "look at me, look at me, I'm terrific".
All these new bodies and innovations that Luxon is so excited about are simply rebranding exercises designed to fool the masses into thinking that this government is progressive when it comes to science, research and development. The truth is that funding for all three have been cut drastically in the last year.
It would be better to keep the existing structures, but to fund them properly and let them do their work without conspiracy theory interference from NZ First.
I suspect that another reason for the new entities is so the government can control who is on them, keep those lefty stirrers out and have their own creatures installed who will tell the government what they want to hear and study what the government thinks will be the best economically over any other considerations.
Spending a lot of millions to rebrand is about as meaningful as Countdown supermarkets rebranding themselves as Woolworths.
How on point for these clowns to bark about commercialising science research while at the same time abolishing Callaghan Innovation, the very institute which was tasked with that.
We're like meth addicts. We know it's bad and is killing us but we're so psychopathically aggressive about it and refuse to change.
They are not big on R and D tax credits.
They are not big on focus of support for graduate students doing research.
Their reform of the Crown Science and Research sector is risible. This is designed to hide the loss of scientists over the past year (funding cut backs) – they no longer have the staff to maintain the existing structure. Mergers will means prioritisation to work based on staffing assignments and use of more generalist staff rather than specialists.
They are taking us back to an economy based on land and its resources (mining and farming with less regard to the environment) and data centres (bidding up the demand – price of power to our businesses and homes).
And sell off of assets. First new build of hospital and school buildings, then sell off of the ones we have to lease back.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360557646/pm-christopher-luxon-announces-major-changes-science-and-research-sector
The nature of the reform is inconsistent with their opposition to Labour's polytech changes.
"I want us to be successful by being successful. I have no idea how yet, so I'm burbling out some totally conventional, upbeat, aspirational hogwash. Then I'm going to find the cheapest, quickest, meanest, dirtiest way of giving it a crack that will have no structural longevity and will enrich a minority of kiwis and a few elite foreigners. Unlike you naysayers, I'm clever, energetic, super-focused, super-excited and onto it."
And SORTED.
You forgot racist and mean. No mention of the Treaty Waitangi or any other ethnicities. No funding of food Banks after June. No grasp of what is happening on the ground, as he travels in comfort. Unlike Greg Foran he does not meaningfully "work on the floor" Luxon does it for 'photos and clicks. A new meme could be
"Plastic Prime Minister".
Brilliant. It's only so good because it's true.
Though it should be "unlike you bottom feeders"
The PM’s ‘State of the Nation’ speech about the New Zealand economy titled “economic growth the key to better days ahead” was a bag of words with no plan.
…and yet David Seymour's equivalent speech, delivered today, makes Luxon's speech look positively Churchillian.
Where have all the real journos gone……
Come back Kim…….please….your formidable skills are needed….this pretense of a PM requires a talking too……
Has Christopher Luxon simply not noticed that record numbers of Kiwis are leaving the country? Or does he simply not care?
He knows. He cares (because it reflects badly on him). But he's trying to bluff his way through, it's all these guys know.
That idiot, Seymour, referenced the same at his ‘alternative Ratana’ in the extremely wealthy suburb of Orakei.
The pair of them are in denial that it is their government which is making young Kiwis flee.
The only people who will come out on top ,after this government are the people who were already a safe financial enviroment. Everyone else,the poor,the police,teachers,retirees, ,doctors,nurses,beneficiaries,construction,industries,students are all getting shafted.
Tax cuts,inter island ferries,infrastructure,crime, are also nz themes that are in the "you have to be joking category "
New Zealand is a mess! Why wouldn't people leave! That's what people do when confronting a tyrannical dictator!
They run!!!!
People who can get away are getting away from the deliberate culture wars, tough on crime BS, crushing of our health system and ideological buggery in education to name just a few.
Many have been forced to leave as simeons purge in transport ended many job's plus health cuts etc.
No guarantees they lose the next election with the owned media echoing atlas talking points and soapboxes for any coalition member.
The damage will be generational IMO even if its only for 1 term.
I agree – it was a terrible speech full of acid old ideas and tired platitudes from the deodorant marketing man.
Nicola Willis and Luxon are both of the ilk that believe that running a country is the same as budgeting a household.
Neither they nor Rachel Reeves in the UK seem to grasp the one glaring difference. The government owns a bank (RB), and this is not true for any household.
In a recession, the government must increase spending since this is the only source of new money. A recession is the rght time to do all that infrastructure building that we were about to embark on with three waters, upgrades of Wellington and Picton terminals, Dunedin and Nelson hospitals and Kainga Ora just getting up a good head of steam.
All those skilled people that have left? They would still all be here. Of course the private sector would be grizzling about the struggle to get workers that prefered the wages and conditions of the pubic sector but cafes and restaurants would still be buzzing and that buzz would drraw more skilled workers, or God forbid, we build the Universities and Polytecnics to train our own citizens, to build and maintain the infrastructure that our country deserves.
But no…Austerity must be implemented. Government spending must be shrunk at a pace faster even than Ruth Richardson and the faster the economy shrinks the louder the calls for more and more austerity and the sale of the commons to 'balance' the budget.
From Richard Murphy, who talks about the same thing from a UK perspective:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/01/the-curse-of-the-household-analogy.html
Hoping that these clowns will be around for only one term is probably wishful thinking. For at least the last 75 years National led governments have always been voted in for at least three terms. We Kiwis are gluttons for punishment. Hunker down, only eight years to go!
First post at The Standard and this is what you came up with? I suspect you may not make it to the Budget let alone the next election when National will be judged.